Dazed and Confused remains a memorable, coming-of-age comedy from the 1990s that maintains a strong fan-base today, nearly 30 years after its release. The setting occurs in mid-1970s Texas, which accounts for the plethora of classic muscle cars shown throughout the entirety of this feature.

Directed by Richard Linklater, Dazed and Confused depicts the marijuana-induced antics of several high-schoolers, with the film taking place within the timeframe of their last day of school before summer break.

This movie is definitely not some car chase-laden action flick, but the cars themselves have proven to become a strong and endearing staple of the film itself. One of which, a 1970 Chevelle SS 454 from Chevrolet driven by Matthew McConaughey's character, has shown to be a crowd favorite among the pack since the movie was first released in 1993.

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The Car Culture Of Dazed And Confused1970 Pontiac GTO Judge from Dazed and Confused

Cars in general are an innate part of Dazed and Confused's setting. Although this isn't necessarily a car movie, the vehicles themselves provide a distinctive portion of the overall background and help give off the 1970s-style vibes that the setting commands. The majority of the scenes are all shot outdoors, either in or near cars, which make them stand out to viewers, especially seasoned automotive enthusiasts.

The film also features an interesting selection for this high-school comedy. In addition to the Chevelle SS, several characters are seen driving a variety of cool machinery. Some of these include a spectacular 1970 Pontiac GTO Judge, which is shown in the opening credits, as well as some other memorable scenes. A primered-out 1973 Plymouth Duster is seen driven by Ben Affleck's character, which is one of the actor's earliest roles. A white, 1974 Pontiac Trans Am is another notable car, although the film itself contains dozens of more classics.

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The Chevy Chevelle SS 454 From Dazed And Confused

dazed and confused
source:flickr

Matthew McConaughey's character, Dave Wooderson, drives the black, 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS 454 throughout the course of the film. Dubbed "Melba Toast" by Wooderson, the car packs the LS5 version of Chevy's mighty 454ci V8. In a short scene, Wooderson is relaying some specs of the car to a friend and indicates that it dishes out 390hp (as shown on the air cleaner). Some sources claim that the output of the 1970 LS5 Chevelle is slightly lower at 360hp, which wouldn't necessarily be an unusual tactic for GM during this era. Regardless, the torque figures remain consistent, indicating a staggering 500 lbs-ft. Melba Toast wears a slick coat of Tuxedo Black paint with its signature white stripes along the hood and rear deck lid, which were common among the SS Chevelles of the early 1970s. The exact transmission utilized in the film car is up to debate, but judging by the way it lurches out at slow speeds in certain scenes, it could be safe to assume that Melba Toast puts its power to the wheels via a TH400 automatic.

The exact whereabouts of Dazed and Confused Chevelle SS are seemingly unknown, at least in the public realm. Back in 2007, a user in the Chevelles forum had claimed that the majority of the cars used during filming were sourced locally from Austin, TX, where the movie takes place, and further claims that some of the cars were sold after filming. A 2002 post from the same forum claimed that the car was sitting in someone's yard, reportedly in rough shape. Whether these stories are true or not, there's a strong chance that Melba Toast still exists somewhere today. Even during filming, the car had already been 23 years old and looked to be in top condition. A rarity like an LS5 Chevelle SS is obviously something that most owners would simply discard, but at the same time, it's understandable that the car's current location would be kept a secret, due to its notoriety.

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Why We Remember Dazed And Confused

1970 Chevelle SS engine bay in Dazed and Confused
Universal

Dazed and Confused was a low-budget, cult classic that continues to make audiences laugh. The movie wasn't necessarily a commercial success at the box office, but ultimately gained a great deal of popularity through word of mouth after its release to VHS and other formats in later years. Dazed and Confused is often compared to George Lucas' American Graffiti, but aimed to showcase an entirely different generation for an entirely different generation.

Several viewers still find themselves gravitating towards this feature despite not even being born during the period it's set in the 1970s, whereas other fans hadn't even been alive during the film's release in 1993. A key factor in this is that Dazed and Confused represented an entirely different era of youth culture, which came in the form of the younger crowd's intense desire to let themselves loose on the weekends, get out of the house, party at the Moon Tower, and unwind after a long week (or sometimes during). In the 1970s, and even during the era of the early 1990s when this movie debuted, the automobile in general proved to be an integral outlet for the youth to achieve that freedom and escape they'd so desired. In a time period with no internet, no cell phones, and only three channels on the television, the younger members of their generations used cars to escape and unite. This is exactly why the cars are so prominently featured in Dazed and Confused, as they acted as vessels of escapism. Even the current youth culture can relate to this factor, despite fewer teenagers obtaining drivers' licenses than ever before.